The desolate frontier village called Mang was plagued by a devastating rat infestation. Led by the cunning rat demon Hui Xian, the swarm ravaged crops and grain stores, leaving the villagers in despair. Desperate for a solution, the village chief, Hou Yongfu, sought out Huang Huotu, a renowned rat exterminator. Huang Huotu, willing to sacrifice three years of his own lifespan, used his own vital essence and lifeblood to slay Hui Xian, bringing the rat disaster to an end. His only request for payment was a single pig, which he intended to use to fund treatment for his wife, Mei Yuling, who was suffering from tuberculosis.
No sooner had the rat infestation subsided than Hou Yongfu and his son reneged on their promise. Upon returning to the village, Hou Dayong mocked Huang Huotu, calling him a fraud. The villagers, swayed by the prospect of cheaper services, turned to Wang Mazi, a self-proclaimed rat catcher armed with a fake ultrasonic device certification. Despite Huang Huotu's repeated warnings, the villagers disregarded his advice. They destroyed his rat repellents, slaughtered livestock indiscriminately, and even killed the guardian spirit snake that had been protecting the vil…
